Recent Articles
April 19, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: ‘One Person at a Time’: A Pastor Tries to Vaccinate His Deeply Conservative N.C. Hometown; Sikh Community Calls for Gun Reforms After FedEx Shooting; Faith Leaders Across US Join in Decrying Voting Restrictions; and more.
People of Good Faith: William Neal
William Neal is a retired Baptist minister who served during his career as a campus minister, journalist and CEO for a social services organization. He is currently serving as the chair of the strategic advisory board for Good Faith Media’s publishing division.
How Advanced Directives Ease Family Burdens
End of life decisions are often not discussed, leaving family to make hard decisions while distressed and grieving. Here is a primer on why advanced directives matter and what they should include.
Look Back | Faithfully Paying Taxes to Support the Common Good
People of faith should work to make sure that our state and federal taxes go to the common good, specifically for economic justice, public education and social services for our most vulnerable neighbors.
April 16, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Splintering of the Evangelical Soul; Many Evangelicals Say They Won’t be Vaccinated Against COVOD-19. Some Experts Say Distrust and Misinformation Have Played a Role; In Los Angeles, a Pair of Art Exhibitions Centers on the Black Church Experience; Dr. C. Gregory DeLoach Appointed Dean of McAfee School of Theology; and more
Trials, Tasers and Tags: What’s Going On?
From the Derek Chauvin trial to new instances of police-involved shootings and questionable traffic stops, we’re left wondering, “What’s going on?” It’s time to bring some love and justice to the nation.
Aaron’s Sons and Careers Outside the ‘Family Business’
Career choice is a relatively new concept, as prior generations often worked for, and with, their parents. Did Aaron’s sons desire another path? Or were they content with entering the family business?
Newest Book from Nurturing Faith Offers ‘Sermons for Special Days’
The latest book from Nurturing Faith, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media, offers a collection of ‘sermons for special days.’ The authors’ goal is to help move beyond sentimental, shallow messages on such occasions.
April 15, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: As Policies Shift, Protestant Groups Join Catholics in Helping Immigrants at the Border; Many Say Now is the Time to Fight Racial Bias in Foster Care; Christian Colleges Fight LGBT Students’ Lawsuit Seeking to Block Title IX Religious Exemptions; and more.
Pollination Nation
Spring pollen season brings misery to some and inconvenience to all, but let’s count our blessings. Without it, we’d miss most of the trees that bring us shade and soak up carbon dioxide – and most of our land-based foods.
COVID-19: Will We Learn from Missteps of 1918’s Pandemic?
As successes against COVID-19 begin to pick up steam, we need to reflect upon the lessons of the past in order to avoid the errors following the 1918 pandemic when the nation functionally swept the horrors of five years under the rug.
Less Confident, But More People Reflect on Life’s Purpose
Whether it’s daily, weekly or monthly, nearly six out of 10 US adults say they think about finding meaning and purpose in their lives, a report found. Yet, less than a third strongly agree that they should pursue that purpose.
April 14, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: California Lifts Coronavirus Restrictions on Church Gatherings;‘Pandemic Acknowledges No Religious Exemption,’ Interfaith Group Warns Legislatures; Texas Faith Leaders Call Voter Bills Equal-Opportunity Disenfranchisement; and more
Brandi’s Baptism Debacle Met with Grace in Reverse
When singer and songwriter Brandi Carlile became a Christian at 15, a Baptist minister wouldn’t baptize her because she is gay. Sadly, much of Americanized Christianity cannot be trusted to faithfully dispense love and grace.
Why You Can’t Go Back to Normal After Pandemic
Many people across the US are enjoying the feeling that we’re coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing hope that they’ll be able to finally ‘get back to normal.’ That may be understandable, but it’s not a good idea.
Report: US Religiosity Largely Stable in 2020
Despite the pandemic, US religiosity was largely stable in 2020, a report said, with 48% of people saying religion was ‘very important’ in their lives. Still, it’s the lowest level in polling history and a 10-point dip since 2012.
April 13, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Rise of Domestic Extremism in America; Retiring NPR Correspondent Looks at How Religious Beat Has Changed; Pro-Trump Evangelical Pastor Says Modern Church ‘Almost Homosexual,’ Asks ‘Where are the Men?’; John Piper’s Son Becomes a Critic of Evangelical Christianity on TikTok; How Churches and Community-Based Organizations Have Stepped up to Vaccinate Communities of Color; and much more.
Who Killed George Floyd? | What the Bible Says About Police Brutality
‘When the Bible is silent, we are silent.’ It’s a common phrase emanating from many pulpits, but life is much more complex. Can we not open the Bible to learn how God views police brutality, white supremacy and climate change?
Grieving Process Takes Time, Requires Tenacity
Any loss brings grief due to the loss of connection with something or someone. To journey through the grieving process, we must realize that it cannot be rushed and requires tenacity to make it through.
Major U.S. Supermarkets Failing on Plastic Reduction
Major supermarkets in the U.S. are not doing enough to reduce single-use plastics and the resulting waste, a report said. None received a passing grade in the four areas of assessment.
April 12, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Experts Explain Possible Causes, Impact of Christian Nationalist Vaccine Hesitancy; Major Catholic Funders and Power Brokers Spearhead Voter Suppression; D.C. Church Wins Default Judgment Against Proud Boys for Torched ‘Black Lives Matter’ Sign; Your Guide to Avoiding COVID-19 at Church and Other Religious Services; and more
People of Good Faith: Marv Knox
Marv Knox founded Fellowship Southwest in 2017 after a four-decade career in journalism. He is currently serving as the chair of the Good Faith Media news and opinion strategic advisory board.
Easter Exposes the Idol of “Normal”
Returning to ‘normal’ is an understandable desire during a global pandemic. Yet, this longing often overlooks injustices and inequities plaguing society. Easter exposes the idol of ‘normal.’
Look Back | Tax Policy Can Help Promote Racial Equality
Tax policies can help move the U.S. toward racial equality and mitigate the negative impacts of racism, a report said. Discriminatory policies, then and now, have created a racial wealth gap.
April 9, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Search for the Missing Dead in a Historic AME African American Church Cemetery; Intelligence Forecast Sees a Post-coronavirus World Upended by Climate Change and Splintering Societies; Faith in Numbers: Trump Held Steady Among Believers at the Ballot – It was the Nonreligious He Lost in 2020; Middle East: For Evangelical Tourists, Pro-Israel and Anti-Vaccine Sentiments Sentiments Might Collide; and more.
Opportunities from Church Decline
As church membership continues to decline in the U.S., Christians have an opportunity to reset and re-calibrate. This will necessitate repenting from patriarchal and nationalistic ideologies, and repenting to love, grace and mercy.
Why You Should Consider ‘Harvesting Life’
“Harvesting life” should be a focal point for us not only as we age but also throughout our lives. Here’s one example of how this process works.
Police, Prosecutorial Misconduct Create ‘Innocence Epidemic’ on Death Row
There is an “innocence epidemic” on death row, a report said. Nearly 200 inmates on death row have been exonerated following their conviction due to prosecutorial misconduct or false testimony.
April 8, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Their Lawsuit Prevented 400,000 Deportations. Now It’s Biden’s Call.; Black and Asian Christian Leaders Discuss Role of Church in Fighting Racism; New Research Documents the Severity of LGBTQA+ Conversion Practices – and Why Faith Matters in Recovery; Leonard Pitts: Small Wonder the Church is Shrinking; and more.
Too Few People, or Too Little Jesus?
Fewer than half of U.S. adults are now members of a church, mosque or synagogue, a Gallup survey found. What accounts for this downward trend that began several decades ago?